Video: Hunting from a Ground Blind

Nice. This is definitely a place to hunt for gobblers. Now, do you have any idea why I’m here the day before the season starts setting up this blind? Well, it’s so that I can really check things out and set up in the daylight, which allows me to take advantage of the turkeys while setting up for safety. But come on, because you can really help us out.

Turkey time, turkey time, turkey time. OK, so first we need to consider where the turkeys and the other hunters are going to come from. Hmm.

Yeah, I think you’re right. It’s most likely that the other hunters are going to come from the trail. And we want them to be able to see our blind, our decoys, and we want to keep them out of our safe zone of fire. So where do we set up? Let’s consider our options.

All right, here’s the deal—in option number one, if you place the blind there, you’re creating a dangerous situation for yourself in the blind and other hunters. For instance, if other hunters come down that trail and shoot at turkeys in front of the decoys, they’re shooting in your direction. Likewise, if you’re in the blind shooting at turkeys by the decoys, you’re shooting toward the direction of hunters coming down the trail. Not good.

All right. In this option, if you were to put the blind there, then that trail access is dangerously within the line of fire of that decoy. Not a good option.

All right. If we set up the blind there, we would be concealed just at the edge of the woods, and our line of fire will be directed away from the trail. And if a hunter came down that trail, they’d see the blind before they saw the decoy. I think this is the spot.

All right. Let’s set up this blind. So tomorrow, when we come back to hunt, we’ll put this hen about 30 yards from the blind. Can’t wait—see you then.

All right. So the decoy is set.

And the gobblers are ready. So Pablo here will be doing the shooting, and I’ll call the turkeys.

Now, we won’t load until we’re in the blind and all set. Let’s do this.

All right. So the turkeys could come from anywhere. So we have to choose our safe zones of fire and close the shooting windows which aren’t safe. Now, which ones would you close? Here are your options.

We decided that’s an unsafe option because another hunter might come from that direction. Close that window and try another.

That’s the smart choice and the one we planned on. It’s away from the trail, and we can see what’s in the background. Keep these open.

We don’t shoot toward a horizon because we can’t see what’s on the other side. Not good. Close that one and try another. OK, we’re all set with a plan for who’s doing what. You ready to load?

Listo.

All right. So this is really exciting. But whether we get a bird or not, thanks for helping us put safety first so that everyone can enjoy the hunt.

Aquí viene.